As the increasing cases of the coronavirus keeps appearing in the news, many families have turned to purchasing gifts for loved ones online. We all know people love to give gifts, and sometimes spending can get away from the best of us. We suggest creating a budget for what you can comfortably spend while maintaining your regular spending on necessities. Remember it’s not all about the gifts on holidays, it is about spending time with those you love.
Budgeting for the holidays may not be on the radar for some that can’t afford extravagant gifts this year, but for those shopping until their heart’s content, online shopping is predicted to soar with the upcoming holidays. While this is convenient for many, there are a few downsides and things to look out for when shopping.
Scammers have been getting better and better at tricking people to click their links and fill out personal information. Don’t use a debit card when purchasing online to prevent scams from accessing your personal account. Credit cards have a higher level of protection. Our suggestion is to only spend as much as you would if you were using your debit card. That way you can pay it off and not over spend on your budget.
Be cautious when receiving an email for a free gift card or reward card. Usually these are phishing scams and will have you fill out personal information. Instead, head over to the companies website to see if the offers are real, and don’t click on the links found in suspicious emails.
Finally, check out as a guest whenever you can. The less personal information you give out, the less risk you are at being a victim of scams.
For more online shopping tips for the holidays, check out this article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/11/23/holiday-shopping-tips/
The Kael Company Inc. would like to wish you all a Happy Holiday and hope you all have a great start to the upcoming new year. If you need advice or assistance with preparing your finances and getting your accounts in order, contact us through our website: https://www.kaelcompany.com/contact-us/
